[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 399 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 399

   To establish the United States Chief Manufacturing Officer in the 
Executive Office of the President with the responsibility of developing 
   a national manufacturing strategy to revitalize the manufacturing 
sector, spur economic growth, and expand United States competitiveness, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 15, 2017

  Mr. Coons (for himself, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Daines) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish the United States Chief Manufacturing Officer in the 
Executive Office of the President with the responsibility of developing 
   a national manufacturing strategy to revitalize the manufacturing 
sector, spur economic growth, and expand United States competitiveness, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Chief Manufacturing Officer Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The manufacturing sector consists of establishments 
        that are primarily engaged in the transformation of materials, 
        substances, or components into products.
            (2) The Federal Government supports manufacturing in a 
        variety of ways; manufacturing-related activities are scattered 
        in several agencies in the executive branch.
            (3) Manufacturing employment, output, and exports are 
        impacted by tax policies, the state of infrastructure and 
        transportation, small business regulations, environmental 
        regulations, trade policies, innovation ecosystems, workforce 
        development, and education initiatives, with national security 
        implications.
            (4) Manufacturers account for 12 percent of the total gross 
        domestic product output in the United States, employing 9 
        percent of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing is 
        more than 2 trillion dollars. There are more than 12 million 
        manufacturing employees in the United States, with an average 
        annual compensation of about $80,000.
            (5) Legislative policies and executive actions often result 
        in unintended, inconsistent, and conflicting outcomes with 
        respect to the growth of manufacturing in the United States.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a well-
designed national manufacturing strategy would benefit the United 
States economy in several important ways:
            (1) A revitalized manufacturing sector would enable the 
        United States to derive more of its economic growth from 
        exports and domestic production than the United States has in 
        the past two decades.
            (2) Average domestic wages would rise in response to 
        growing manufacturing output, as manufacturing jobs 
        historically have paid higher wages and benefits than 
        nonmanufacturing jobs.
            (3) A growing manufacturing sector would help lay a 
        foundation for future United States economic growth, since 
        manufacturing industries perform the vast share of private-
        sector research and development, which fuels the innovation 
        that serves as a primary engine of economic growth.
            (4) The United States would expand its long-standing 
        leadership in advanced manufacturing technologies with Federal 
        investments in manufacturing research and development, 
        education, and workforce training.
            (5) There has always been a strong connection between 
        domestic manufacturing and national defense and homeland 
        security. A strong and innovative manufacturing industry will 
        maintain the superiority of the United States military and will 
        allow for an unquestionable ability to respond quickly to 
        threats and catastrophes.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (3) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
        organization'' means an organization that is described under 
        section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt 
        from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, 
        or possession of the United States, and each federally 
        recognized Indian tribe.
            (5) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7801).

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES CHIEF MANUFACTURING OFFICER.

    (a) Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint a United 
        States Chief Manufacturing Officer (referred to in this section 
        as the ``Chief Manufacturing Officer'').
            (2) Qualifications.--The President shall select the Chief 
        Manufacturing Officer from among individuals who have basic 
        qualifications and expertise in manufacturing technology and 
        policy.
            (3) Reporting.--The position of Chief Manufacturing Officer 
        shall be in the Executive Office of the President and shall 
        report to the President through the Chief of Staff.
            (4) National economic council.--The Chief Manufacturing 
        Officer shall be a member of the National Economic Council.
    (b) Pay.--The annual rate of pay for the Chief Manufacturing 
Officer shall be an Executive Schedule rate of pay (subchapter II of 
chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code), as determined by the 
President, commensurate with the qualifications and expertise of the 
individual appointed to be such Officer.
    (c) Duties.--The duties of the Chief Manufacturing Officer are as 
follows:
            (1) To develop the national manufacturing strategy 
        described in subsection (d) not later than May 1, 2018.
            (2) To advise the President on policy issues that affect 
        the economic activities and the workforce of the manufacturing 
        sector.
            (3) To foster the coordination of manufacturing-related 
        policies and activities across agencies by--
                    (A) encouraging the use of best innovative 
                manufacturing practices across the Federal Government;
                    (B) ensuring the use of best information 
                technologies and cybersecurity practices for 
                manufacturing; and
                    (C) analyzing the status of manufacturing 
                technology needs across agencies.
            (4) To conduct technology policy analyses to improve United 
        States manufacturing productivity, technology, and innovation, 
        and cooperate with the United States manufacturing industry in 
        the improvement of its productivity, technology, and ability to 
        compete successfully in world markets.
            (5) To determine the influence of economic, labor, and 
        other conditions, industrial structure and management, and 
        government policies on technological developments in 
        manufacturing sectors worldwide.
            (6) To identify technological needs, problems, and 
        opportunities within and across the manufacturing sector that, 
        if addressed, could make a significant contribution to the 
        economy of the United States.
            (7) To assess whether the capital, technical, and other 
        resources being allocated to manufacturing are likely to 
        generate new technologies, are adequate to meet private and 
        social demands for goods and services, and are sufficient to 
        promote productivity and economic growth.
            (8) To propose studies and policy experiments, in 
        cooperation with agencies, to determine the effectiveness of 
        measures with the potential of advancing United States 
        technological innovation in manufacturing.
            (9) To encourage the creation of joint initiatives by State 
        and local governments, regional organizations, private 
        companies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
        organizations, or Federal laboratories to encourage technology 
        transfer, to stimulate innovation, and to promote an 
        appropriate climate for investment in manufacturing-related 
        industries.
            (10) To propose manufacturing-related cooperative research 
        involving appropriate agencies, State or local governments, 
        regional organizations, institutions of higher education, 
        nonprofit organizations, or private companies to promote the 
        common use of resources, to improve training programs and 
        curricula, to stimulate interest in high technology 
        manufacturing careers, and to encourage the effective 
        dissemination of manufacturing technology skills within the 
        wider community.
            (11) To serve as a focal point for discussions among 
        companies that manufacture in the United States on topics of 
        interest to the manufacturing industry and workforce, including 
        discussions regarding emerging and advanced technologies.
            (12) To promote Federal Government measures, including 
        legislation, regulations, and policies with the potential of 
        advancing United States technological innovation in 
        manufacturing and exploiting manufacturing innovations of 
        foreign origin.
            (13) To develop strategies and policies that would 
        encourage manufacturing enterprises to maintain production 
        facilities and retain manufacturing jobs in the United States 
        and use manufacturing supply chains based in the United States.
            (14) To support communities negatively impacted by the 
        closure or relocation of manufacturing facilities by promoting 
        efforts to revitalize communities for new manufacturing 
        enterprises.
            (15) To assist States in their economic development plans 
        for manufacturing and in their efforts to relocate 
        manufacturing facilities within the United States rather than 
        moving manufacturing outside of the United States.
            (16) To promote the goals of the Network for Manufacturing 
        Innovation Program established under section 34 of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s).
            (17) To encourage participation of public and private 
        organizations, State educational agencies, and institutions of 
        higher education in the annual celebration of National 
        Manufacturing Day to enhance the public perception of 
        manufacturing.
            (18) To perform such other functions or activities as the 
        President may assign.
    (d) National Manufacturing Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--The national manufacturing strategy 
        developed under subsection (c)(1) shall contain a summary of 
        the current state of manufacturing in the Federal Government 
        and comprehensive strategies for--
                    (A) identifying and addressing the anticipated 
                workforce needs of the manufacturing sector;
                    (B) strengthening education and the required 
                training and certifications for manufacturing;
                    (C) creating training and appropriate career paths 
                to manufacturing jobs for veterans and others that have 
                become unemployed;
                    (D) promoting the development of quality control 
                and other technical standards;
                    (E) maintaining reliable physical and 
                telecommunications infrastructure, and the required 
                investments in infrastructure projects, as needed, for 
                manufacturing;
                    (F) analyzing the status of manufacturing 
                technology needs in the industrial sector and providing 
                recommendations for economic and labor force 
                expansions;
                    (G) monitoring technology directions and analyzing 
                strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities in 
                the United States manufacturing sector;
                    (H) implementing appropriate tax incentives and 
                credits to assist manufacturing enterprises in 
                improving their competitiveness;
                    (I) recommending Federal and State regulations to 
                reduce the cost of manufacturing and improve 
                productivity;
                    (J) promoting the export of United States 
                manufactured goods and enforcement of fair trading 
                rules;
                    (K) identifying other forms of assistance to 
                companies that manufacture in the United States to 
                successfully compete in world markets;
                    (L) coordinating the United States national 
                manufacturing strategy with the manufacturing strategy 
                of each State to ensure a well-integrated national 
                strategy; and
                    (M) addressing such other issues as the President 
                determines necessary.
            (2) Incorporation of other strategic plans.--The Chief 
        Manufacturing Officer shall incorporate into the national 
        manufacturing strategy described in paragraph (1) the 
        following:
                    (A) The national strategic plan for advanced 
                manufacturing developed under section 102(c) of the 
                America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
                6622(c)).
                    (B) The strategic plan developed for the Network 
                for Manufacturing Innovation Program under section 
                34(f)(2)(C) of the National Institute of Standards and 
                Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(f)(2)(C)).
    (e) Annual Updates.--The Chief Manufacturing Officer, in 
consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 
shall submit annual updates to the President and Congress that describe 
the progress made toward--
            (1) achieving the objectives of the national strategic plan 
        for advanced manufacturing developed under section 102(c) of 
        the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
        6622(c)); and
            (2) carrying out the national manufacturing strategy 
        developed under this section, including implementing strategies 
        for--
                    (A) promoting innovation and investment in domestic 
                manufacturing;
                    (B) supporting the development of a skilled and 
                diverse manufacturing workforce;
                    (C) promoting equitable trade policies;
                    (D) expanding exports of manufactured goods;
                    (E) enabling global competitiveness;
                    (F) encouraging sustainability; and
                    (G) supporting national security.
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